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C. Clyde Atkins

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C. Clyde Atkins
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office
December 31, 1982 – March 11, 1999
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office
1977–1982
Preceded byCharles B. Fulton
Succeeded byJoe Oscar Eaton
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office
July 22, 1966 – December 31, 1982
Appointed byLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded bySeat established by 80 Stat. 75
Succeeded byLenore Carrero Nesbitt
Personal details
Born
Carl Clyde Atkins

(1914-11-23)November 23, 1914
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedMarch 11, 1999(1999-03-11) (aged 84)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
SpouseEsther Castillo
EducationFredric G. Levin College of Law (LLB)

Carl Clyde Atkins (November 23, 1914 – March 11, 1999) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Education and career

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Born November 23, 1914, in Washington, D.C., Atkins received a Bachelor of Laws in 1936 from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. He entered private practice in Stuart, Florida from 1936 to 1941. He practiced law in Miami, Florida from 1941 to 1966.[1]

Federal judicial service

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Atkins was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 28, 1966, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to a new seat authorized by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 22, 1966, and received his commission on July 22, 1966. He served as Chief Judge from 1977 to 1982. He assumed senior status on December 31, 1982. His service terminated on March 11, 1999, due to his death in Miami.[1]

Notable cases

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In 1969, Atkins worked on ensuring the desegregation of Miami schools by appointing a special panel to ensure the plan was carried out.[2] In 1970, he ruled on a famous case involving the poet Allen Ginsberg after someone shut off Ginsberg's microphone during a public reading.[3] Atkins ruled that Ginsberg should be given another reading, free of charge.[citation needed]

Among the many important cases in a long and distinguished career, Atkins issued landmark rulings protecting the constitutional rights of homeless people in Pottinger v. City of Miami, as well as major rulings in other cases involving the rights of Haitian and Cuban refugees.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Carl Clyde Atkins at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ Pate v. Dade County School Board, 315 F.Supp. 1161 (S.D. Fla. 1969).
  3. ^ Ginsberg v. City of Miami, 307 F.Supp. 675 (S.D. Fla. 1970).
  4. ^ Cuban American Bar Association, Inc. v. Christopher, 43 F.3d 1412 (11th Cir. 1995).
  5. ^ Haitian Refugee Center, Inc. v. Christopher, 43 F.3d 1431 (11th Cir. 1995).
[edit]
  • Carl Clyde Atkins at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  • "St. Thomas University Library Media Archive". library.stu.edu.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 80 Stat. 75
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
1966–1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
1977–1982
Succeeded by